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(May 5, 2015) - President Barack Obama will be visiting the Portland Metro area on Thursday and Friday this week and the Portland Police Bureau would like to make the public aware of several traffic-related inconveniences that are expected.

The Bureau understands the impacts to commuters, businesses and people frequenting Downtown Portland and appreciates patience and understanding during a Presidential visit.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is encouraging people to work from home (if possible) or ride a bicycle in to work to avoid being stuck in some of the vehicular traffic delays.

The area from Southwest Morrison to Washington, 9th to 12th Avenues will be closed to all traffic, including the Portland Streetcar. The closure will begin at 2:00 p.m. Thursday and is expected to reopen at 8:00 p.m. There will be limited pedestrian access to the closed area, at Southwest 11th Avenue and Morrison Street.

Portland Streetcar will run a modified service with Central Loop trains connecting NW 23rd Ave to the Lloyd District and OMSI via the Broadway Bridge.

The North/South line will operate between South Waterfront and Portland State University. There will be no Streetcar Service on 10th and 11th Avenues from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The area from Southwest Morrison to Stark Street, and 4th Avenue to Broadway, will be closed to all traffic, including the TriMet bus mall and the Yellow and Green MAX lines, beginning at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, reopening at approximately 9:00 a.m. on Friday. There will be limited pedestrian access to the closed area, at Southwest 5th Avenue and Stark Street. TriMet is encouraging riders to please plan extra time for their commute. Delays may be significant Thursday afternoon and Friday morning as police will instruct MAX trains to hold for an indefinite period of time whenever the President or his motorcade is nearby.

MAX Green and Yellow lines will be disrupted from 6:30 p.m. Thursday through 9:00 a.m. Friday. Green and Yellow lines will run on the Blue/Red tracks on 1st Ave and Morrison/Yamhill in Portland City Center. Buses will detour off the Transit Mall on 5th and 6th Avenues between Southwest Oak and Yahmill Streets from 7:00 p.m. through 9:00 a.m. Friday as well. Delays could be 30 minutes or more for both trains and buses as all traffic will be impacted.